Fatehgarh Sahib: A team from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), led by observer Dinesh Meena, visited various villages in Punjab to gather firsthand information on farm fires and to discourage farmers from burning paddy straw.
According to reports, the NGT team toured villages such as Bharowal, Fatehbad, Jhander Mahanpurkha, and Pandori Hassan and advised farmers to utilize both in-situ and ex-situ methods for paddy straw disposal.
Accompanying the NGT team were officials including Harpal Singh Pannu, Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), and Jasmit Singh from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).
During the visit, CAO Harpal Singh Pannu informed the NGT observer about ongoing efforts by the administration, including awareness camps and slogan-writing competitions aimed at combating paddy straw burning. He noted that ASHA workers are also involved in educating farmers on the issue.
The NGT team engaged with farmers at known farm fire hotspots to gather their opinions, and Pannu added that the administration has provided subsidized machinery to help farmers manage paddy straw effectively.
